Congress refuses to buy exit poll predictions

Published: Monday, December 17, 2007, 19:38 [IST]

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New Delhi, Dec 17 (UNI) Rejecting exit polls which predicted return of BJP government to power in Gujarat, the Congress Party today said it had enough "betrayals" by such polls whih "are inaccurate and misleading." While expressing the hope that the Congress Party would win the assembly poll in Gujarat "hands down," AICC Spokesman Abishek Manu Singhvi said the people had now learnt not to rely on exit polls.

In this context, he pointed out how the predictions made by different exit polls in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh elections proved wrong.

Dr Singhvi said the feedback from the party sources in Gujarat suggested that the Congress would come to power in Gujarat.

"Our sources are unanimous that the Congress is heading towards a well deserved, clear victory in Gujarat," he said.

Meanwhile, top Congress leaders said "if the Party wins or loses in Gujarat, it will be a photo finish with the BJP." They said the party's anticipated better performance was mainly due to the effort and planning at different levels.

"For the first time that we have fought the election in Gujarat with so much of planning," a senior leader who took active part in the campaigning told UNI.

He said the candidates for the Gujarat poll were selected meticulously by the Congress Party.

While Congress President Sonia Gandhi had held ten meetings in connection with Gujrat poll strategy, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had four and AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi had two.